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Sunday, June 09, 2013

Colors of Provence

I got back yesterday from a two-jaunt to Aix-en-Provence to see the Cote-Sud Vivre salon which was super FAB.

I booked my last-minute accomodation through AIRBnB.

Have you tried them? Quite an experience.

They are really serious about the B in their name.

My room, in a beautifully decorated apartment in the historic section (deep, deep..like going through an endless maze to find it in the blistering heat) of Aix - my petite chambre/room was full of BEES!

I kid you not. And the windows were closed? Why not let the bees find another place to sleep or was I sharing? Did my hostess forget to mention it? During the night a neighbor's cat came in the window for a nap on my bed. Shouldn't I have gotten a discount? I much prefer a chat to bees as a room mate anytime ahem..So BEE it.

Oh well the little adventures of traveling. You just never know...And it's all part of the fun oui?

What really hit home to me were the brilliant colors everywhere in Aix.

Natch I brought my Paris black to wear = ALL Wrong in Provence.

I'll do a post on what YOU should wear dear PBers.

When in Rome etc...

There was both a flower market and a vegetable market on Saturday.

Both an utter delight. Just get out EARLY (like 8 am) before the hoards of tourist groups hit the cobblestones. Aix has become infested I'm sorry to report. Maybe like Bayeux it's way better to go during the week? Qui sait...

So many yummy shops often in brick red and yellow ochre...

Lots of tres charmante oldie-worldie cafes to hang out in...

The endless choices of regional delights is well..endless. Calissons d'Aix is top of the list made of almond paste and melon-flavored.

I just noticed my little box says I must eat before 12.5.14.

Oooopla I misread that as 12.6.13. Being semi (very semi)-dyslexic has it's advantages. I just woofed down my delicious quartet of Calissons...

Beautiful heads of garlic in the marche none of which I brought home since I still have garlic from the Agricultural Fair in March...

I did buy these irresistible sun-dried tomatoes. The seller said to first reconstitute in water and then olive oil, but I love the way they look as is, so may never use them.

It can get blistering hot in Aix so do bring your parasol PBers unless you like having sunstroke which doesn't agree with all of us.

Here's the instructions my host sent to help find my lodgings in the old town.

What do you think?

How to get from TGV Aix-en-Provence to XXX's Apartment From TGV station:

Catch Navette (shuttle) to Gare Routiere.

Note: The Gare Routiere bus stop is in a new location while the old bus station is being renovated. The navette will drop you at the number 11 stop next to the Hotel d’Police (Police Station). You are now on Avenue de l’Europe but there are no signs.

Walk up the hill, past Rue des Xllumettes and the bus information office on your left. Continue walking past all the bus stops until you get to the round-about at Square El Xadate, then turn left into Avenue des Xelges. Again, at the time of writing this, there are no signposts due to the renovation work.

Follow the Avenue des Xelges to the large fountain at the large round-about in the Place de Gaulle.

(I loved this next instruction!!)

*You will see a small group of trees on your leftand if you wish, you can detour to the Tourist Office in the low building on the plaza behind the trees. (How did I NEVER find the tourist office?)

To continue, cross rue Xonaparte and follow the round-about where you will see the Le Xestival Cafe. (Oh sure)

Turn left here at Place Jeanne d’Xrc and you will see a small street called Rue Xspariate leading into the old city.

Once again there is renovation work and the signs maybe hard to find.

If in doubt then ask a local shop keeper for directions. (Hahahaha)

Follow Rue Xspariate (the streets are now well signposted) and then turn left into Rue Xedarrides. Follow along and turn left into Rue X Foch and follow to large old arch and clock tower that is attached to the Hotel d’Ville (Town Hall). Continue through the arch into Rue Gaston de Xaporta. Continue along and look for the Xstienne de Saint-Jean Museum on the left and just next to this you will see a small side street called Rue des Xremondis.

Turn left into this street and you will come to Rue de l’XXX, turn right and then immediately on the left you will see a low iron fence with gate. Enter here into the small courtyard and you will see the flat between X and X.

Very simple. I looked on Google maps and decided to take the main drag not the scenic route - it was still scenic. After all this is Aix!Just TWO streets and hang a right and I was there. as it was you could have scraped me off the floor from the heat and getting up at 4am not to miss my 7am TGV train.I was ready for a transfusion but in the name of blogging and PBers I carried on...

I wasn't sure what to with The Bees so I went off leaving them to buzz awaySadly most of them had committed hari-kari when I got back...Next time I'll know better.I did leave my door ajar hoping they'd migrate to the living room but...

The only way those directions could be worse for me is if the North South East or West had been mentioned..Now those are the colors I got to see..your bee is so cute too..And when I was in Provenece I never saw black either ..that's why i was so surprised in first reading you that Black is Paris:)Love that jean jacket and white dress.. did you see a lot of Linen? And balloon pants etc?Loved all that..

I would have been screaming for a taxi. I once had to find a half number(a Bis)on a side street off Rue de Passy in the 16th Arrond. where I had rented an apt. Without a taxi I doubt I would ever have made it. Even then, getting into the actual building and navigating the dark hallways with luggage until I triggered a light, was a mini adventure. But anything for Paris right? Was the TGV fabulous? The AVE from Madrid to Seville was the best transportation experience I ever had better even than the QEII.

Air Bee&B, indeed! Glad it all worked out for you. I, too, love the lightweight white dress with the denim jacket. I'm glad you survived the ordeal for the blog. ;) The only way those instructions could have been worse is if they were handwritten by a French person.

It was my 1st experience and just 1 night.Still AIRBnB is NOT compatible with the iPad or Internet Explorer browsers so it was the dickens to pay. I couldn't have done it without customer support.The ad did say there were 3 children though nothing about them turning somersaults upstairs even if very well behaved and nice...Read carefully and ask questions.For 81€ I would have been better off at a Motel 6 with a desk in the room

Carol,your beautiful blog feeds my soul.Your adventures bring back so many memories.Isn't it funny how these crazy European experiences not only make the best stories,but will be treasured in the future (maybe because we survived).Thanks for sharing your wonderful life. Cyndi from SD

Those are the experiences that you remember. Motel 6 would not have been memorable at all. The cat coming in to sleep with you was hilarious! With all the bees I'm surprised you slept at all, I wouldn't have. You are amazing, you even managed to paint for us. Thank you!

Well, the colors in both the photos and your paints are splendid to say the least. Wish I could say the same for the bees. While the Gypsy would delight in le chat, I'll give the little buzzers a pass, thank you! A spot on my bucket list -- but I think we'll talk before I ever visit -- just to make certain I don't end up in the same spot!

I have been swamped with a consulting job that takes every drop out of my morning, noon and night. But, that doesn't stop me from devouring my 'Paris Breakfast' every day. Thank you for bringing a little 'Paradis de France' my way. Warmest wishes,Terry

I always look in the FREE daily Metro newspapers.There was an ad for SALON Cote-Sud VivreI tore it out and put it on the wall and then wrote to them...I also photograph any interesting event posters in the Metro - they change them weekly or even daily so you gotta stay on top of it!

dear Carol, the directions to your AirBnB are absolutely hilarious and how you found the place is truly a miracle! and then to find you were sharing it with BEES! Yikes, such a great story that I'm sure wasn't as much fun experiencing as it is in the telling! Merci beaucoup for your great attitude!Have a grand day,Janice

what an experience, the hilarious directions, the bees, then the cat on the bed ... but I'm sure all the typical Aixe things made up for it.and your fab painting captures the colours of Provence. Great post even if it all wasn't as you'd hoped.Barbara

AirBnB...I wondered! They are based in San Francisco...and it looks like things can go haywire.

The directions to the BnB...you and I know sometimes French people can be delusional...these directions are planetary and delusional...and hilarious.Hilarant...is a useful word in French (hilarious)Hallucinant...is also a very useful work in French (meaning kind of...delusional and hilarious and crazy and incredible...said with a rising inflection...)Dianne

Paris Letters

♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5. I'm still at it, now tripping over cobblestones, living in a 6th-floor garret on l'Ile Saint-Louis, Paris. Read Parisbreakfast with a hot chocolate and croissant.
I paint Paris breakfasts.